The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-08-05

mept OF savage warfare tIat has done this
(cries Of "Nor1. "because most of them can
well afford TO dospise the money, and many
more have seen enough Of native war and
know well what few rewards and plenty of
hard work fall TO the lot Of colonial volun-
teers. Then, what Is III will venture
reply. 1t is that sense Of patriotism which is
a part and parcel Of the English mind
cheers-"and which from generation TO gen.
grafton has been the root Of England's great
ness, and, so long as the British blood re-
mains untainted will, from unborn genera.
ton to generation, be the handspring OF the
greatness that Is yet to be OF those wider Eng
lands, Of which hope this continent will be-
come not the least Loud cheers
GThat, gentlemen and men OF Alston's
Horse, is the bond which unites us together;
It Is the sense OF a common duty to perform,
OF a common danger to combat, of a common
patriotism 10 vlndicats. And for that reason,
because of the patriotism aSd duty, feel
sure that when the end Of the campaign
comes, whatever that end may be, no one, be
be imperial officer or newspaper correspond
ent or Zulu foe, will be able TO say that AL
ston's Horse shirked its work, or was mutinous
or proved broken reed, piercing tho side Of
those who leaned upon It," (Cheers) 81 feel
sure, too, that though there may be q record
of brave deeds such as become brave men,
there will be none of a comrade deserted in
the time of need or of failure in the moment
of emergency, however terrible that emer-
eency may be- tCheefs.) SAY, my breth-
rem in arms" and here Ernest's eyes flashed
and his strong, clear voice went ringing down
the great hall, ~whom England has called,
and who have not failed TO answer that call,
repeat, however terrible may be that emer-
gency, even If lt should involve the certainty
OF death-I speak thus because / feel am
addressing brave men, who do not fear to
die, when death means duty and life means
dishonor-I know well that you will rise to
it, and, falling shoulder TO shoulder, will pass
as heroes should on to the land of shades---on
to that Valhalla of which no true heart
should fear to set foot upon the threshold"
Ernest sat down amid ringing cheers. Nor
did these noble words, coming as they did
straight from the loyal heart Of an English
gentleman fail of their effect. On the con-
trary, when fortnight later Alston's Horse
formed that fatal ring OH Isandhlwana's
bloody field, they flashed through the brain
of more than one despairing man, SO that he
set his teeth and died the harder for them.
On the goth Of January Alstons Horse, bav-
ing moved down by easy marches from Pre-
toria, camped at Rorkes Drift, on the Buffalo
river not far from q store and thatched
building used as a hospital, which were des-
tined to become historical Here orders
reached them to march on the following day
and join No. 8 column, with which was Lord
Chelmsford himself, and which was camped
about nine miles from the Buffalo river, at a
spot called Isandhlwana, or the "Place Of the
Little Hand" Next day, the 21st of January,
the corps moved on accordingly, and, follow
ing the wagon track that runs past the Inhla-
zatye mountain, by midday came up to the
camp, where about 2 800 men of all arms were
assembled under the immediate command of
Col Glynn. Their camp, which was about
800 yards square, was pitched facing wide
plain, with its back toward precipitous, slab
sided hill, of the curious formation sometimes
to be seen in south Africa. This was Isand
hlwana.